Terminal board assembly



April 15, 1969 F. E. RYDER TERMINAL BOARD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 27. 1966INVENTOR. Franc 's E. Ryder His Arr' s United States Patent US. Cl.339-33 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A television antenna terminalboard for supporting an indoor UHF loop antenna and providing aplurality of universal terminals capable of alternatively acceptingfemale spade-type connectors, soldered joints or strain relief fasteningof a single conductor plus providing terminals for VHF twin lead cable.

This invention relates to an antenna board assembly for use inconjunction with television sets. More particularly, it relates to asub-assembly which can be mounted on the back panel of a television setor the preparation of the back of a plastic television set for theretaining of a loop type of UHF antenna in adjustably mounted position.

With the addition of UHF channels on television sets, it has becomenecessary to provide a specialized antenna capable of receiving theultra high frequencies utilized by all channels having a numericaldesignator higher than 13. Many approaches have been taken to thesolution of this problem but invariably, certain of the clips and otherfastening devices which have been used to mount such antennas havefailed through continuous usage.

The assembly comprises an apertured terminal board, each aperture beingformed to receive and retain an inserted terminal when the terminal ismoved laterally in the aperture. A terminal screw engages portions ofeach terminal and prevents lateral movement of the terminal. The boardhas aligned pairs of tubular projection means adapted to receive linearpairs of tubular projection means adapted to receive linear conductormeans (of the antenna), which are each secured under a screw head.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sub-assembly boardwhich is capable of mounting a UHF loop type antenna on the back panelof a television set.

Another object of the invention is to provide a specialized sheet metalterminal which can be mounted in the dielectric board and is adapted toaccept a screw fastener by cooperative action between the terminal and aspecially prepared aperture in the dielectric board.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means on such adielectric board to accept the legs of a loop type antenna in movablemechanical relationship to the board while at the same time maintainingproper electrical connections. Still another object of the invention isto provide an inexpensive sub-assembly wherein the terminal can berapidly assembled with the dielectric board as well as the terminalsproviding a multiplicity of alternative means of fastening a conductorto an extremity of the terminal.

'Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when thespecification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation showing an embodiment of the present invention inmounted position on the back of a TV setand retaining a loop type UHFantenna in mounted relation thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the embodiment of the present inventionshowing one of the components in exploded view;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the same embodiment 70 showingadditional details; and

'ice

FIG. 4 is a view along one edge as seen along lines 44 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing wherein similar numerals are utilized toindicate similar parts throughout the drawing; the embodiment of thepresent invention, namely, an antenna board assembly 10 supporting aloop type UHF antenna is mounted on the back panel of a television set14 as shown in FIG. 1. The antenna board 10' is preferably an injectionmolded dielectric plastic material which is rigid in nature. A pluralityof apertures 18 are provided in a row medially of the board. Each of theapertures 18 has a noncircular lower portion 20, in the preferredembodiment; this is generally rectangular with a flat lower wall, asviewed in the drawings, and a semicircular upper portion 22.Intermediate the lower portion 20 and the upper portion 22 are a pair oflaterally extending slots 24.

Telescopically associated within each of the apertures 18 is a terminal30. 'Each terminal includes a head 32 and a shank 34 having shouldermeans 36 spaced from the head a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the dielectric board 10 at reinforcing bosses 4-8.Intermediate the shoulder means 36 and the head 32 is a reduced neckportion 38 having a plurality of screw engaging means or tabs 40 whichin the preferred embodiment are struck from the material of neck portion38. The end of the terminal opposite the head presents a fiatnoncircular extremity 42. End 42 is provided with. a pair of aperturesof differing size with the larger aperture being designated by thenumeral 44 and the smaller aperture by the numeral 46.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a terminal 30 is axially telescoped intoaperture 18 by introducing the end 42 within the slots 24 until the head30 engages the front side of panel 10 and the shoulders 36 have passedbehind the reinforcing bosses 48 which are utilized to strengthen theboard 10. The terminal is then moved downwardly, as viewed in thedrawing, with the reduced neck portion 38 being brought into contactwith the flat wall of the lowerportion '20 and shoulder means 36 lockingbehind the face or boss 48. A screw 50 is then introduced into theaperture with its threads engaging the tabs 40 and the wall of thesemicircular portion 22. Being, preferably, of a spaced thread variety,the screw will form an impression in the dielectric plastic material andparticularly the semicircular upper portion 22 with the tensile strengthof the plastic wall of the bore being reinforced by the screw engagingmeans or tabs 40 and terminal 30* being nonremovable as long as thescrew is in place.

A plurality of tubular projections extend outwardly from the same faceof the board as engaged by the head 32 and are integral with the board.In the preferred embodiment two pairs of such projections 60 are placedin axial alignment with the opposite tubular projection of the same pairand with the axis of each pair being slightly offset from one of theapertures 18. The internal bore 62 of each of the projections isdesigned to have a specific diametral relationship, as will be explainedhereinafter. The UHF antenna 12 includes an antenna loop 66 with theterminal portions of the loop being bent downwardly to form a pair ofparallel legs 68. The diameter of the wire forming the loop is such thatthe legs 68 will be freely acceptable within the bore 62 of the tubularprojections 60. When the legs 68 are telescoped within bore 62 the head52 of the screw is in a spaced position relative to the terminal head 32whereby the legs 68 are captured against lateral movement by the bore 62and against axial movement by compression of the screw against the legand thence against the head 32 of the terminal. Thus, not only is theloop rotatable about its central axis to present a smaller waveconfiguration for reception purposes, but also it is electricallyconnected to the interior of the set by a pair of terminals 30 utilizedfor the UHF connection and generally designated by the numeral 72 inFIG. 1. The second pair of apertures 18 and their associated terminals30 are generally designated by the numeral 74 in FIG. 1 and can beutilized for connection to a VHF antenna either internally or, asillustrated in FIG. 1, to an outside twin lead cable 76 having theopposite terminal end thereof connected to a building mounted antenna.

As best seen in FIG. 4 the flat noncircular extremity 42 can be utilizedfor a variety of connection means found in the electronics industry. Theflat noncircular form can be used as a male spade-type connector with afemale connector 80 as shown in phantom at the left hand side of FIG. 4.If desired, an insulated wire can be introduced through aperture 44 anda stripped portion thereof is then fed back through aperture 46 to forma strain relief type of connection as generally indicated in phantom bythe numeral 82. The configuratio at the terminal end 42 is also adaptedfor use as a standard solder type connection as indicated in phantom bythe numeral 84. Other types of connections would be also available foruse with this universal terminal end such as the wire wrap techniquewhich could be employed in the reduced neck 45 located on the shank 34between the two apertures 44 and 46.

The board is provided with apertures 70 adapted to accept fasteningmeans for locating the board relative to the back panel or structure ofthe television set.

While I have disclosed but a single embodiment of my invention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be madeto same and it is my intent that I be limited only by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A terminal assembly including a substantially planar member having aplurality of apertures for the acceptance of terminal members therein,at least two tubular projections spaced from said apertures each beingaxially aligned with a portion of a terminal positioned in saidapertures and adapted to accept the extremities of a loop type UHFantenna with said extremities telescopically associated with saidtubular projections and adapted to contact one or more of said terminalmembers, fastener means associated with said terminal means and adaptedto contact said extremities of said antenna.

2. A device of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said apertures arenoncircular in configuration and adapted to nonrotatably mount saidterminal means therein.

3. A device of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubularprojections are integral with said terminal board and are four in numberand arranged in axially aligned spaced pairs, the axis of each spacedpair being perpendicular to a plane passing through the apertures ofsaid board and spaced laterally from the axis of said apertures, saidterminal means having laterally extending portions overlying said boardand adapted to be contacted by the extremities of said antenna whentelescopically assembled through said aligned pairs of tubular portions.

4. A device of the type claimed in claim 3 wherein the apertures in saidassembly board are noncircular on one sidewall and semicircular on theopposing sidewall, slot means communicating with said aperture andextending laterally intermediate said semi-circular and non-circularportions of said aperature, said terminal being an elongated flat memberwith a head at one end and complementarily accepted by axial telescopingsame into said slot and said terminal having a reduced neck portionadjacent said head, said terminal being adapted to be moved laterallyuntil said neck portion is positioned within said noncircular portion ofthe aperture, said fastener means including a screw telescopicallyassembled within said aperture and engaging the opposite face of saidterminal from the face of the terminal engaging the noncircular portionof the aperture, said screw also engaging the semicircular portion ofthe aperture to maintain said terminal in mounted position in saidboard, the extremities of said antenna being adapted to be positionedbetween the clamping surface of the head of the screw and the head ofthe terminal positioned adjacent to said aperture.

5. An electrical terminal adapted to be mounted in an apertured panel,said terminal including an elongated substantially flat shank portionand a head projecting laterally from one extremity of said shank, saidshank having shoulder means spaced from said head and adapted tomaintain said terminal in mounted position on the apertured board withthe head engaging one surface of said board and the shoulder meansengaging the opposite surface of said board, screw engaging meansextending laterally from said shank intermediate said head and saidshoulder means, the extremity of said terminal shank opposite said headbeing substantially flat and noncircular in configuration, a pair ofapertures axially spaced along said shank adjacent said oppositeextremity whereby said shank is adapted to alternatively accept aslip-on terminal or a soldered wire connection or a strain reliefconnection for a single wire slipped through each of said two apertures.

6. A device of the type claimed in claim 5 wherein said shank ispartially struck from material from said head and bent perpendicularlyto said head to thereby form a U-shaped head.

7. A device of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said thread engagingmeans includes a plurality of spaced tabs struck from said shank andadapted to engage a plurality of threads on a complementary matingscrew.

8. A device of the type claimed in claim 7 wherein said terminal isadapted to be mounted in a panel board, said panel board having anirregularly shaped aperture, one extremity of said aperture beingnoncircular in configuration and adapted to nonrotatively accept theportion of said shank between said head and said shoulder means, theopposite extremity of said aperture being semicircular in configurationand adapted to accept the shank of a complementary screw with which saidterminal is to be associated, a pair of slots extending laterally fromsaid aperture and positioned intermediate said noncircular andsemicircular portions of said aperture wall, said shank of said terminalbeing reduced in width and said shoulder means having a widthsubstantially equal to the diametral dimension of said slots wherebysaid terminal may be axially telescoped through said slots and thencemove radially into nonrotative engagement with said noncircular portionof said aperture with said head engaging one side of said panel boardand said shoulder means engaging the opposite side of said panel board.

9. A terminal board assembly including a dielectric terminal boardhaving a plurality of apertures, said apertures each being elongated inconfiguration and having a semicircular portion at one extremity of saidaperture, a square end at the opposite extremity of said aperture and apair of oppositely extending slot means positioned intermediate saidsquare and semicircular extremities, said slot means falling in a planesubstantially perpendicular to a plane passing through the oppositeextremities of said aperture, a plurality of terminals each adapted tobe positioned in one of said apertures, said terminals each including ahead and a fiat shank equal extending perpendicular to said head,shoulder means projecting laterally from said shank in spaced oppositionto said head, screw engaging means extending laterally from said shankintermediate said shoulder means and said head means for engagingelectrical conducting means at the extremity of said shank opposite tosaid head, the shank of said terminal being telescoped into said slotand then moved laterally to be positioned within said aperture in thenoncircular extremity thereof with the head engaging one surface and theshoulder means engaging the opposite surface of said board, screw meansequal in number to said apertures adapted to be telescopicallyassociated between the thread engaging means on said shank and thesemicircular portion of said aperture, tubular projection meansextending laterally from the same surface of said board as is engaged bythe head of the terminals, the axis of said tubular projection meansbeing parallel to said last mentioned surface and said axis of saidtubular projection means being perpendicular to and offset laterallyfrom at least one of said apertures, said tubular projection means beingadapted to accept a linear conductor means telescopically associatedwith said tubular projection means, said conductor means further beingpositioned in contact with the head of an associated terminal, theassociated screw means having a laterally extending clamping surfaceadapted to overlie the head end of the associated terminal means withwhich said screw means is to be telecopically associated and toclampingly engage said linear conductor means between the clamping sur-1 face of said screw means and the head of said terrnmal. a

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1925 Kvaal 339-214 X 10/1929Hengstenberg 339-219 5/1930 Rosen 339263 X 5/1953 Alden 339-275 X 1/1957Pifer 339-198 5/1960 Purpura et a1. 339258 X 4/1963 Wright 339-17 X2/1966 Reynolds 343--702 10/1967 Siebold 343-702 RICHARD F. MOORE,Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

